A strong arts scene is a symbol of any vibrant city or town. The City of Holyoke will soon have a gem in that regard as the renovation of the classic Victory Theater nears completion. The Victory is a 1600 seat Broadway-style theater which opened in 1920. It was originally a performance space and movie house. The theater saw years of success but began to decline as the manufacturing sector, the base of the city's economy, moved overseas and residents could no longer afford the luxury of a show.
This historic building has been derelict since 1979 but has been purchased by the Massachusetts International Festival for the Arts or "MIFA". Led by Director Don Sanders, MIFA has raised over 25 million dollars to bring this venue back to life. Completion is expected in 2012 with shows beginning the following year. Top-level performances from Broadway, the Globe Theater of London, as well as new and classic movies are expected.
Senator Michael R. Knapik; Executive Artistic Director Don Sanders; former Mayor Elaine A. Pluta; Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin; and State Representative Michael F. Kane
With a growing underground arts scene already emerging in such spaces such as The Canal Gallery, Race Street Studios, the Warengen Building and popular shows at the Wistariahurst Museum, it is thought that Holyoke’s cultural potential will be fully realized with the Grand Opening of the Victory.
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